Mig Burgess Walsh

Mig Burgess Walsh is a Senior Lecturer in lighting on the Theatre Production course at the Guildford School of Acting (GSA), part of the University of Surrey. She is also the Co-Chair and Trustee Council Member of the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT), and a trustee of the Backup Tech charity. Her academic and artistic work is deeply rooted in the intersection of theatre, technology, and mental health.

Her educational background includes:

• BA Hons Theatre Practice - Lighting Design, Central School of Speech and Drama (2003)
• BTEC City and Guilds in Electrical Installation, South London College (2007)
• Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Mental Health First Aid England (2022)

Mig's research and creative practice are centered on mental health awareness through immersive art. She is the founder of Fuse Arts Collective, a not-for-profit consortium that fuses arts and science to create socially impactful installations. Key projects include Blackout Immersive, an immersive experience simulating a bipolar cycle, and 1 in 4, an interactive lighting installation about mental health prevalence. These works blend storytelling, technology, and audience participation to challenge stigma and promote wellbeing.

Her scholarly publications reflect a strong trend in using visual and immersive methods to communicate mental health experiences. The works analyze bipolar disorder, help-seeking behavior, and mental health policy in the entertainment industry, contributing to both academic discourse and practical guidance.

She has received recognition through leadership roles and impactful publications, including two ABTT guidance notes on mental health in the backstage industry. These documents provide evidence-based frameworks for supporting freelancers and managing work-related stress.

Mig advises on mental health initiatives and has led major research evaluations in the theatre sector, including the 2019 and 2022 UK Backstage Wellbeing Surveys. She has also contributed to policy development and delivers Mental Health First Aid training through ABTT. Her work bridges academia, industry practice, and advocacy.

She leads or collaborates with several initiatives:

• Fuse Arts Collective: Creative projects linking art, science, and mental health
• ABTT Wellbeing Working Group: Develops industry standards for mental health
• Backup Tech: Charity supporting backstage professionals in crisis
• UK Backstage Wellbeing Evaluation: Research project assessing mental health in the entertainment sector